NEW YORK — Pardon the ALL CAPS in the headline, but we are going to borrow a device from Jim Dolan and Irving Bierman and use that construction liberally in this post. Because frankly, OUTRAGE is not a strong enough word to describe my feelings on this issue.
After writing a hateful, venomous e-mail to a fan who criticized his ownership of the Knicks, Dolan deserves to be suspended by the NBA for A MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR.
At the very least Commissioner Adam Silver needs to react forcefully and decisively and quickly, and prevent Dolan from becoming THE FACE OF ALL-STAR WEEKEND.
Dolan’s e-mail to Bierman, 73, crossed so many lines, it is like a Jackson Pollack painting. And given the way the league office handled the Donald Sterling fiasco and the Bruce Levenson/Danny Ferry scandal, there is no way I can see Silver doing anything but coming down HARD on Dolan. Will he force Dolan to sell the team? I wouldn’t bet on that, but I wouldn’t say it is out of the question, either.
To recap, here is the e-mail exchange first reported by Deadspin. We shall begin with Dolan’s response, because that response is what is going to be driving this story until Silver does his best to make it go away.
Dolan wrote: “Mr Bierman. You are a sad person. Why would anybody write such a hateful letter. I am.just guessing but ill bet your life is a mess and you are a hateful mess. What have you done that anyone would consider positive or nice. I am betting nothing. In fact ill bet you are negative force in everyone who comes in contact with you. You most likely have made your family miserable. Alcoholic maybe. I just celebrated my 21 year anniversary of sobriety. You should try it. Maybe it will help you become a person that folks would like to have around. In the mean while start rooting.for the Nets because the Knicks dont want you. Respectfully, James Dolan.
As hate mails go, that is about as strong of an e-mail as I have ever seen. And coming from a man who represents the NBA, the Knicks, the city of New York and one of the league’s charter franchises, IT IS SO VICIOUS AND VENEMOUS that I cannot see Silver reacting any way except forcefully. A two-year suspension would not surprise me.
And what did Mr. Bierman write to Dolan to merit THAT response?
This:
Subject: I have been a knicks fan since 1952
At one stage I thought that you did a wonderful thing when you acquired EVERYTHING from your dad. However, since then it has been ALL DOWN HILL. Your working with Isaiah Thomas & everything else regarding the Knicks. Bringing on Phil Jackson was a positive beginning, but lowballing Steve Kerr was a DISGRACE to the knicks. The bottom line is that you merely continued to interfere with the franchise.
As a knicks fan for in excess of 60 years, I am utterly embarrassed by your dealings with the Knicks. Sell them so their fans can at least look forward to growing them in a positive direction Obviously, money IS NOT THE ONLY THING. You have done a lot of utterly STUPID business things with the franchise. Please NO MORE.
Respectfully,
[Aaron Bierman’s dad]
More on this growing NBA controversy in this interview with Noah Coslov of CineSport.
Chris Sheridan is publisher and editor-in-chief of SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.